Chip Kelly likely will not become the Florida Gators’ next coach, culminating a two-week saga that included a meeting this past Sunday in New Hampshire between school officials and the biggest name on the job market.

UF athletic director Scott Stricklin would not confirm the report, but told reporters Sunday evening he remains confident the Gators will land a top coach.

"We're going to end up in a really good spot," Stricklin said, according to Scout.com.

Another source previously told the Sentinel Florida never made a formal offer to Kelly and the Gators were keeping their options open. It appears UF will not wait any longer on Kelly and are moving on to other candidates.

Kelly has been Florida’s presumptive top candidate for more than a week. But things took a dramatic turn Sunday when UCLA fired Jim Mora Jr. and turned its attention to Kelly.

When UF officials returned Sunday night without a deal in place to make Kelly the Gators’ next head coach, the door was open for the Bruins to step in.

The L.A. Times reported Kelly met with a contingent of athletics officials from UCLA Tuesday.

While the UCLA does not have UF’s tradition or SEC profile, the Bruins offers Kelly potentially a better fit.

Kelly coached Oregon to three Pac-12 Conference titles and was 46-7 overall during four seasons. Kelly is more familiar with the West Coast recruiting landscape. He also is known to value his privacy and might prefer coaching in Los Angeles, where he would not the center of attention as he would be in Gainesville.

UCLA also has resources and facilities to challenge UF. The Bruins recently built a $75 million standalone and signed a record $280-million contract with Under Armour in 2016.

UF has won three national titles during the past 21 years, plays in a superior conference with all of its games televised in favorable time slots and is located in a fertile recruiting ground. But lagging facilities are an issue.

UF did did not intend to complete, or even present, a contract to Kelly last Sunday, a source close to the process said earlier this week.

A six-person contingent including athletic director Scott Stricklin, school president Kent Fuchs and associate athletic director Lynda Tealer, known as the department’s contract specialist, was next step in the process to replace McElwain, who was let go Oct. 29 after just 34 games at UF.

“There will probably be some more productive conversations in the days ahead,” Stricklin told reporters following his from the 1,200-mile expedition from Ocala to Portsmouth, N.H.

Those conversation with Kelly now appear to be over and the Gators will move onto their next target, presumably UCF’s Scott Frost. Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, another possible candidate, said he planned to remain in Starkville following Thursday night’s loss to Ole Miss.

Kelly does, however, have a history of changing his mind.

In 2012, he was poised to leave Oregon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but ended up staying another season in Eugene.

A year later, Kelly initially rejected the Philadelphia Eagles but eventually would take the job.

CAPTION

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

CAPTION

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

CAPTION

The Gators will hold their first scrimmage of preseason camp on Monday. UF coach Dan Mullen discusses what he hopes to accomplish.

The Gators will hold their first scrimmage of preseason camp on Monday. UF coach Dan Mullen discusses what he hopes to accomplish.

CAPTION

UF Dan Mullen is confident in the Gators' first-team offensive line. But he said it is critical to develop two or three other players who can step in without the line missing a beat.

UF Dan Mullen is confident in the Gators' first-team offensive line. But he said it is critical to develop two or three other players who can step in without the line missing a beat.

CAPTION

UF coach Dan Mullen said he has not had to push the Gators to give more effort each day. Players are showing up to practice each day ready to give maximum effort.

UF coach Dan Mullen said he has not had to push the Gators to give more effort each day. Players are showing up to practice each day ready to give maximum effort.

CAPTION

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the installation of the offensive and defensive schemes during camp. He said he'd like to see the Gators picking it up a little bit faster.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the installation of the offensive and defensive schemes during camp. He said he'd like to see the Gators picking it up a little bit faster.